What started as a great comedy series, ended as a struggle to finish an episode. Recommended but stop watching when it starts getting uncomfortable..
That final scene, where an exhilarated Ted finds a crestfallen Marshall, is one of the most brilliant moments in the whole show. The contrast of triumph of tragedy, of a new relationship just beginning and an old one falling apart, as friends comfort one another in the rain is a striking juxtaposition, and "This Modern Love" in the background, while a little on-the-nose, is the perfect accompaniment.
Marshall and Lily are the backbone of this show. I have to admit, even as a fan, I get a little tired of the romantic comedy tropes that always seem in play with Ted. His scene with Robin is nice enough, if a bit overwrought. And his rain dance is a nice thematic way to show his devotion and goofiness. But his and Robin's kiss isn't nearly as affecting as Marshall and Lily's in the middle of their fight. They're such a strong couple, and having them go through real, believable problems in the midst of their palpable, obvious love for one another feels both real and heartbreaking. Contrasting that, with the more romcom-esque victory for Ted and Robin was a canny way take some of the edge off of Ted's tropery, and take away some of the sting of Marshall's despair. Superlative work.
8.5/10. I kind of hated Ted after this episode when I watched it originally. The way he blatantly cheated on his girlfriend, and lied about it to boot, just chapped my hide. But in retrospect, I feel compelled to go a little easier on him, and I think it makes me like the episode more because of it. For one thing, Future Ted emphasizes that this was a dumb and wrong thing to do, and that he regrets it immensely, and that takes some of the sting away from it. Sure, it's still a stupid, kind of awful thing to do, but having the character acknowledge that in some way, shape, or form, and be legitimately remorseful about it helps.
And, as my wife pointed out when we watched the episode, while Robin has a right to be upset for being lied to, she also invited Ted over with a pretty clear intent (or at least a recklessness) for something to happen between the two of them, knowing full well that Ted was attached. Maybe that should just make me dislike Robin more, but it at least levels the playing field a bit.
And being a little older and (hopefully) wiser than when I first watched the episode, there's something true about it that makes the episode enhanced rather than hurt by the character flaws. People do make stupid decisions that they don't fully think through. Or, in Ted's case, that they do think through (with the conversation with Victoria being a great device to do accomplish that), but act impulsively anyway. The advice from Marshall and Lily underscores the fact that the show gets that, and even if what Ted did was shitty, it's also human, and he has to face the consequences. To work in laughs in that setup and make the awkwardness and poorly considered nature of the whole thing so salient is an accomplishment, and the episode is all the better for it.
